By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Alleged sheer incompetence has turned this year’s MISA awards into a “ridiculous circus” and a nightmare of embarrassment for the initial winners in five categories.
The company that organized the event, Strategic Business, yesterday quickly reacted in trying to solve the mess and humiliation it caused to the 15 winners of the competition by stopping the cheques that were awarded by various banks, in addition to the certificates.
The winner in the first position was awarded N$2 500, the second winner received N$1 000 and the third was given N$500.
It was initially announced that Jeremiah Ndjoze had scooped the first prize in the Best Community Reporter category. It turned out that Dirk Heinrich was the winner, and Ndjoze second.
In the Health/Medical category, Ronelle Radameyer was announced the winner, while David Lush was second. It transpired that the two awards were swapped.
Frederick Philander was announced as the second winner in the Education category, but it turned out that his name fell out and Daniel Booysen took Philander’s place.
Daniel Booysen received the Political Journalism award in third place, but it turns out that Arien de Boer, a freelance journalist who once worked for the Big Issue magazine, was the winner in that position.
In the Best Reporter category, Tabby Moyo scooped the award in third place but, based on the new list, Daniel Booysen was the winner.
“I find it extremely difficult to comprehend such silliness on the part of the organizers of the MISA Awards. It is audacious to ask me and others to give back money and certificates after being publicly acknowledged for excellence in the print media,” said a frustrated Philander.
He added that it is embarrassing and very insulting to say the least. This incident reflects very badly on the media as well as the sponsors of the event, he said.
“I have decided to keep the N$1 000 and to make use of it as a donation to a needy charity. The whole exercise is one whole mess for journalists in Namibia, which affects 15 practitioners in the print media by the organizers of this year’s MISA awards,” said Philander.
Founder of Strategic Business, Ferdinand Tjombe, confirmed that the cheques that were presented to the initial winners had to be “stopped” by the bank.
“We have to correct it if something is wrong. There are no two ways about it.
Cheques were blocked already because people will sit with money that does not belong to them,” Tjombe added.
A concerned editor also commented that the entire exercise lacked credibility, especially because foreign judges who could hardly relate to the Namibian media set-up had to be brought in.
“The organizers should be prepared to bear the loss. What about the embarrassment, their (journalists) standing in society and their dignity? The organizers should be prepared to bear the loss,” commented another veteran journalist.